The next morning, Alessia sat at her desk in the Kane Enterprises office, sipping her third cup of coffee and scrolling through an endless stream of emails. She had barely slept the night before, her mind consumed with the pressure of holding the company together while balancing the chaos surrounding Zane’s case. Her assistant, Claire, had already filtered through dozens of applications for the temporary financial controller position, but none of them had jumped out at Alessia.
Just as she was about to take another sip of her coffee, a new email notification popped up on her screen. The subject line read: Application for Temporary Financial Controller Position – Gianna Falcone.
Alessia clicked on it out of habit, her expectations low. But as soon as she opened the CV, her brows lifted in surprise.
“Claire!” Alessia called, her voice cutting through the quiet of the office.
Claire appeared in the doorway moments later, holding a notepad. “Yes, Ms. Kane?”
“Take a look at this,” Alessia said, spinning her laptop to face her assistant. “Gianna Falcone. She just sent her application, and it’s… honestly incredible.”
Claire leaned in, scanning the résumé quickly. “Harvard MBA, years of experience with high-profile companies, crisis management certifications. She even turned around a failing investment firm in under six months. Impressive doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
“Exactly,” Alessia said, sitting back in her chair. “She’s overqualified, honestly. But given the situation, I’m not going to complain.”
Claire straightened, pen poised over her notepad. “Should I schedule an interview?”
“No,” Alessia said quickly, shaking her head. “I don’t have time to waste. If she’s willing to start immediately, I’m hiring her. Can you draft up the contract and send it over?”
Claire hesitated. “Are you sure? I mean, we haven’t even spoken to her yet.”
Alessia sighed, rubbing her temples. “I know it’s risky, but look at her credentials, Claire. I need someone who can hit the ground running, and she’s clearly capable. Besides, desperate times call for desperate measures.”
Claire nodded reluctantly. “Alright. I’ll have HR send the contract over within the hour.”
“Perfect,” Alessia said, turning back to her laptop. “Let her know she can start tomorrow.”
***
The next day, Alessia was seated in the conference room, her notebook open and pen in hand, as she waited for Gianna to arrive for their first in-depth meeting. The morning light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a soft glow on the sleek, minimalist furniture. Alessia felt a strange mix of anticipation and unease. Something about Gianna had tugged at her thoughts all night, though she couldn’t quite place what it was.
At exactly 9:00 a.m., the door opened, and Gianna walked in. She was punctual, polished, and composed, her jet-black hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. She wore a fitted white blouse tucked into high-waisted black trousers, exuding effortless confidence. Alessia stood to greet her.
“Good morning, Ms. Kane,” Gianna said with a faint smile, extending her hand.
“Good morning, Gianna,” Alessia replied, shaking her hand firmly. “Please, call me Alessia. We’re going to be working closely together.”
“Of course,” Gianna said, her tone warm but professional. She took a seat across from Alessia, opening her leather-bound notebook. “I’ve reviewed the files Claire shared yesterday, and I’ve drafted some immediate action points for stabilizing the financial department. I’d love to get your input.”
“Efficient already,” Alessia said, impressed despite herself. “Let’s hear it.”